THE LETTER, A MESSAGE FOR THE EARTH

US, 2022, 82 minutes, Colour.

Pope Francis, Aroune Kande, Ridhima Pandey, Chief Cacique Odair, Greg Asner, Robin Martin.

Directed by Nicolas Brown.

In 2015,  Pope Francis issued an encyclical letter on ecology and the environment, using the title of his now a-namesake, Francis of Assisi, his Canticle of the Sun, Praise be. The significant thing was that it was addressed to readers beyond the church, to people of all faiths, secular and none. (At the opening of the film, we can hear some dissenting voices, that the Pope should not be political, that he was doing a disservice to theology.)

How to communicate, publicise, this letter and its message? A film, Youtube, stories, visuals, and Pope Francis himself.

The Letter is a film for all audiences, telling the story of Francis and his writing Laudato Si, but the writer-director, Nicolas Brown (noting that he is agnostic but was impressed by Francis and his encyclical) takes his audience into a meeting, what might seem an ordinary day for the Pope, but he has filmed it to make this day and the meeting readily available for the whole world.

The occasion is an encounter with Pope Francis with chosen representatives coming to the Vatican to discuss environmental issues and commitments.

The film introduces us to the representatives, introducing them, Aroune Kande from Senegal, Ridhima Pandey from India, Chief Cacique Odair from Amazon, Greg Asner and Robin Martin from Hawaii. They tell the audience their stories and commitment. We see letters from Rome, written, posted, stamped, received - and the surprise of each of them to get a letter from the Vatican. And the group are representatives chosen to represent refugees, environment, youth, wildlife. We see lives and issues through stories and images.

Araone thinks of leaving Senegal, a refugee, but, as we see, flimsy boats, full, capsising and refugees drowning. He decides to be active in his home country. Ridhima Pandey is 13, confident, outspoken. In the Amazon, the chief explains the destruction of the forests and the dire consequences. (He is striking in his large feathered headgear, which he wears around Rome and for the papal meeting). Greg and Robin work in Hawaii with technology, gauging wildlife, especially underwater.

We sit in on the meeting with Francis (close-ups to see his emotional facial expressions, speaking in Spanish to express himself personally). He bonds with the delegates as they speak to him, as they commit themselves to the causes.

We also join the group as they visit Assisi, join in the spirit of Francis, suddenly interrupted as Aroune receives text and video from Senegal, his friend’s school completely flooded and the children having nowhere to stay. Some comfort for him from the group who have now bonded as a family.

The Letter is very easy to access and free. Go online, Google The Letter Pope Francis Movie – click and the film will come up. (An indication for a short Google clip appears at the end – worth having a look at, what the representatives have been doing since their meeting.)

A film for all audiences.

1. Laudato Si, Pope Francis, 2015, a letter about the environment, social awareness, ecology, development, change, spiritual ecology? And address to all the world, beyond religions, to the secular? Its impact in the time, consequently?
2. This film to promote the encyclical and its message? The use of film, individuals and stories, working together, the different countries and visuals, issues?
3. The images of Pope Francis, in the Vatican, meetings, audiences? The meeting with the group, the close-ups and his expressive face, speaking in Spanish to be authentic? His response to the group?
4. The film sponsored by Youtube, available to all audiences?
5. The device of having the representatives, for refugees, for the environment, for youth, for wildlife? The portrayal of the different characters in the contexts?
6. Aroune, Senegal, a young man, his friends, attempts to lead by boat, unreliable boats, sinking, deaths? His decision to stay at home, to work for the country? The school?
7. India, Radhima, her age, teenager, the model of Greta Berg, her enthusiasm, public speaking, causes?
8. The chief in the Amazon, the indigenous group, their rituals, beliefs, the feathered headdress, the issues of the environment, logging, farming, the consequences?
9. Greg and Robin, Hawaii, scientists, technology, underwater wildlife?
10. The writing of the letter, posting, stamping, received, the recipients and their reactions? The travel to Rome?
11. In Rome, the touch of the travelogue with the views of the city, and the chief in his headdress?
12. To the Vatican, the meeting with Pope Francis, there introducing themselves, the gifts, their speeches, the Pope and his speeches? The bonding? The message and commitment?
13. The visit to Assisi, the spirit of St Francis, his Canticle, the interruption with the sad text and video from Senegal, the flooding of the school, the boys having nowhere to go?
14. The bonding, commitment, the returning home?
15. The short Youtube sequence indicating what each of the visitors has achieved after returning home?